Sonics stars in mix for Beijing

Allen, Lewis could join Olympic team

By GARY WASHBURN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Published 10:00 pm, Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Phoenix Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo is taking his job as chairman of USA Basketball seriously. He plans to help the United States regain the Olympic gold medal after an embarrassing bronze-medal performance in Athens last year.

Colangelo said Tuesday he had eight commitments for the U.S. team in preparation for next year's World Championships and could have three more when he meets with three NBA players this weekend in Chicago.

Sonics guard Ray Allen and forward Rashard Lewis have expressed interest in playing for the Olympic team in 2008. Allen was a member of the 2000 gold medal-winning team, which some basketball observers will say was the final edition of the Dream Team.

"Both players are worthy of consideration, you know that," Colangelo said. "In terms of Ray, (he) is one of the best shooters in the league, always has been. Certainly we have a lot of interest in him, and he is aware of that, through his agent. By the time we get to the All-Star break, we should have every thing covered.

"There's a lot of candidates at different positions. Rashard, I think, is a candidate because of his overall ability. In the international game, I believe he would be effective. It's going to be very competitive. That's the way you want it to be. There are no locks."

Colangelo said he does not want 12 superstars who do not want to share the ball, complain about playing time and appear uninterested in the Olympic experience besides the increased endorsement dollars.

That appeared to be prevalent on the 2004 team and Colangelo plans an extensive screening process that will put the 12 most qualified players on the court in Beijing in 2008.

Gone are the days, according to Colangelo, where the roster was made up of 12 all-stars.

"This is not about money, this is about giving back, this is about representing your country," he said. "I'm interested in people who are not only going to get the job done on the floor, but how they respond on and off the floor. What they look like, what they say and how they dress.

"This is going to be a different deal. This thing has gone way too far because we're representing the United States at a time when the anti-American sentiment around the world is big time. We're the underdogs everywhere, we're the bad guys."

Colangelo said he will personally call all prospective players, including Allen and Lewis.

"I am hopeful by mid-January we will announce half of that roster, kind of a core group," he said. "I've had conversations with some on the phone that need to be followed up with because how it was done in the past was a little bit ludicrous. Guys would receive letters. Agents would get calls. That's not where we are. We only want players who want to participate."

ALLEN UPDATE: Sonics coach Bob Weiss gave his tired club Wednesday off and Allen underwent further treatment for his left thumb contusion. Allen was hacked on the hand by Phoenix's Raja Bell as he attempted a shot in the third quarter Tuesday.

Television replays showed that Bell vigorously swatted at Allen's arms before he released the ball. Allen said he did not think it was intentional.

"The only thing that would bother me is if the referee didn't call a foul on that one," Allen said. "It just hurt."

STILL 30TH: After giving up 111 points to Phoenix on Tuesday, the Sonics are last in the NBA in points allowed at 104.8 per game and last in opponents' field-goal percentage at 49.4.